Vehicular vision system

ABSTRACT

A vehicular vision system includes an imaging device and a control operable to process image data captured by the imaging device. The control is operable to process the captured image data to detect at least one of (i) a sign ahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a pedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle. The control is operable to process the captured image data to detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or generally sidewardly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/292,120, filed Nov. 9, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,142,059,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/074,698,filed Mar. 29, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,332, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/171,436, filed Jul.11, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,914,187, which claims the benefit of U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 60/949,352, filed Jul. 12, 2007, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to vehicle lighting systems and,more particularly, to vehicle lighting systems that may control theheadlamps of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle vision systems and/or vehicle headlamp control systems are knownand provide enhanced automatic control of the headlamps of a vehicle,typically in response to a detection of a threshold ambient light leveland/or a detection of light (such as headlamps of oncoming vehiclesand/or taillights of leading vehicles) in the region forward of thevehicle. Examples of such vision and/or headlamp control systems aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,877,897; 6,498,620; 5,670,935;5,796,094; 6,396,397; 6,806,452; 6,690,268; 7,005,974; 7,123,168;7,004,606; 6,946,978; 7,038,577; 6,353,392; 6,320,176; 6,313,454; and6,824,281, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an automatic vehicle lighting system orlight control system with an adaptive alignment function. The lightcontrol system of the present invention is operable to control or adjustthe beam of a light of the vehicle (or of the headlamps or auxiliarylight of the vehicle) in response to a detection of a gaze direction orhead angle or pose or position of the head or eyes of the driver of thevehicle, so as to provide enhanced illumination in the direction thatthe driver is looking, such as toward road signs and/or the like alongthe road on which the vehicle is traveling.

Optionally, the light control system may be responsive to a detection ofa gaze direction of a driving instructor (typically seated in the frontpassenger seat of the vehicle during a driving instruction or test forthe person or student driving the vehicle). In such an application, thelight control system provides the driving instructor with a tool todirect the attention of the student in a way that does not force thedriver or student to look at the hand-pointing of the instructor, but atthe relevant object which is illuminated or highlighted by the automaticadaptively-aligned lighting system.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an automatic lightingsystem for a vehicle includes a gaze detection device operable todetermine a gaze direction of a driver or driving instructor or frontseat occupant of a vehicle, an illumination source and a control. Theillumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to adirection of travel of the vehicle, and has an adjustable principal axisof illumination. The control is operable to adjust the principal axis ofillumination of the illumination source in response to an output of thegaze detection device. The control adjusts the principal axis ofillumination of the illumination source to direct illumination toward anarea where the driver or driving instructor or front seat occupant ofthe vehicle is looking.

Optionally, the gaze detection device may comprise an imaging device forcapturing images, with the imaging device having a field of viewdirected generally toward the head of a driver or driving instructor ofthe vehicle. An image processing device may process image data todetermine the gaze direction of the driver or driving instructor of thevehicle. Optionally, the automatic lighting system may be selectivelyenabled and disabled in response to a human-machine interface or othersystems or inputs. For example, such other systems may include anintelligent headlight system that detects other vehicles so that thehost vehicle's light does not shine at the eyes of the driver of anoncoming or leading vehicle, a Global Positioning System (GPS), aroadside information system, the internet, an intelligent transportationsystem or information system, a communication system, a telematicssystem, a navigation system or the like, that may provide or generate anoutput, whereby the automatic illumination system may control theadjusting or enabling of the adaptive alignment light in response tosuch an output. For example, some geographical locations orjurisdictions may forbid or limit such adaptively aligned lightedsystems, whereby it is envisioned that the automatic lighting system mayoverride the adaptive alignment control or otherwise not adjust or limitthe adjustment of the adaptive light when the vehicle is in suchlocations or jurisdictions (such as in response to an output of a globalpositioning system that is indicative of the vehicle being located at orin such a location or jurisdiction).

According to another aspect of the present invention, an automaticlighting system for a vehicle includes an imaging device for capturingimages, a control and an illumination source directed generallyforwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. Theimaging device has a field of view directed generally forwardly withrespect to a direction of travel of the vehicle. The control is operableto process image data to determine if a sign, or other important objector object of interest (such as an object of interest to the driver orstudent or instructor), such as a deer or pedestrian or the like, ispresent generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle as the vehicletravels along a road. The control is operable to adjust the illuminationsource in response to a detection of an object of interest (such as asign or person or animal or other object) generally forwardly andsidewardly of the vehicle, with the control adjusting the illuminationsource to direct illumination toward an area encompassing the detectedobject of interest when the object of interest is detected.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become more apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a vehicle and lighting system, showing that thevehicle headlamps may not substantially illuminate a sign at the side ofthe road as the vehicle travels along the road and approaches and passesthe sign;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a vehicle and lighting system in accordancewith the present invention, showing an adjustment of illumination froman illumination source to provide enhanced illumination of a sign inresponse to the driver's or driving instructor's gaze direction or headdirection being angled or directed generally toward the sign; and

FIG. 3 is another schematic of another vehicle and lighting system inaccordance with the present invention, showing that the principal axisof illumination from the illumination source may be adjusted to accountfor the offset of the illumination source from the driver or drivinginstructor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an automatic lighting system or miner's lighting system 10 of avehicle 12 includes a gaze detection device 14, such as an imagingdevice or the like, that is operable to determine a gaze direction orhead angle or pose or position of the head or eyes of the driver ordriving instructor or occupant of the vehicle, and an illuminationsource 16 or “miner's light” that is operable or adjustable to provideillumination generally in the direction of the detected gaze or headangle A, so as to provide enhanced illumination of an area that thedriver or driving instructor of the vehicle is looking toward (FIGS. 1and 2). A control or image processor 18 may process the image data todetermine the gaze direction or line of sight A and may adjust theangled illumination source accordingly. For example, the illuminationsource 16 may provide a centrally located illumination source or lightor light emitting diode(s) (LED) or the like at a forward portion of thevehicle, and the illumination source may be pivotable or adjustable toadjust its principal axis of illumination toward either side of thevehicle and generally forwardly of the vehicle (and optionallyvertically), so as to provide enhanced illumination of a sign or object20 or the like located forwardly of the vehicle 12 and toward the sideof the vehicle as the vehicle travels along a road surface.

The gaze detection device 14 may comprise an imaging sensor or device,such as a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensorsarranged in a two dimensional array on a semiconductor substrate, suchas a CMOS imaging array or the like. The imaging array may be locatedwithin the vehicle, such as in an interior rearview mirror of thevehicle or an accessory module of the vehicle or an overhead console ofthe vehicle, or steering wheel column of the vehicle or instrument panelof the vehicle or the like, with its field of view directed generallytoward a region of the interior cabin of the vehicle that is occupied byor encompasses a head of a typical or average sized driver of thevehicle (at the driver's seat of the vehicle) or driving instructor ofthe vehicle (typically at the front passenger seat of the vehicle).Optionally, other gaze detecting devices may be implemented whileremaining in the spirit and scope of the present invention. The controlor image processor processes the image data captured by the imagingdevice (such as via any suitable processing means, such as via edgedetection algorithms or biometric characteristicrecognition/identification algorithms or the like) to determine thedirection of the driver's or driving instructor's gaze, and adjusts oractivates the illumination source in response thereto.

Optionally, the gaze detection device may comprise a cellular telephonewith a camera or imaging sensor incorporated therein (or other personalcamera device). For example, a camera telephone may be mounted or dockedat the vehicle dashboard or interior mirror or elsewhere in the vehiclecabin with the camera directed toward the driver's head (or toward thehead of a driving instructor), whereby images captured by the camera maybe processed (by circuitry within the telephone or by vehicle-based ormirror-based circuitry or the like within the vehicle) to detect thedriver's or driving instructor's gaze direction and activate or controlthe adjustable light accordingly. Such a system may utilize any suitabletelephone or device incorporating a camera or image sensor, and mayutilize aspects of the imaging systems described in U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/956,633, filed Aug. 17, 2007, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination source 16 is generallycentrally located at a forward portion of the vehicle, and has itsprincipal axis or beam of illumination adjustable toward either side forproviding illumination at the targeted area or region at one side of thevehicle, such as at the right side of the vehicle off to the side of theroad on which the vehicle is traveling. The illumination source maycomprise any suitable illumination source, such as a light emittingdiode (LED) or the like, or may comprise one or both of the headlamps ofthe vehicle. The illumination source may be adjustable, such aspivotable about an axis, or may be adjustable by selectively enabling oractivating components, such as light emitting diodes or the like, todirect the illumination in the desired or targeted direction, or abaffle or light guiding element may be adjustably disposed in front ofthe illumination source and may be adjustable to adjust or guide theprincipal axis of illumination of the illumination source toward thetargeted region at or near the side of the vehicle. Optionally, theadjustable nature of such a light may be accomplished by enabling ordisabling or selectively activating/deactivating several individualcomponents, such as individual lighting elements or light sources, suchas individual ones of a plurality of or array of light emitting diodesdisposed at or near the front of the vehicle, such that such selectiveactivation and deactivation of the light sources results in anadjustment in the principal beam direction of the light sources (forexample, the individual light sources may be directed in differentdirections so that activation of some lights results in a beam of lightgenerally in one direction while activation of other lights results in abeam of light generally in another direction).

Optionally, the illumination source or sources may be verticallyadjustable as well as adjustable laterally or side-to-side. Optionally,the range of such adjustment may be limited in the vertical dimension byan intelligent headlight system that is operable to detect the presenceor absence of vehicles in the potential location of the adjustable“miner's light”. For example, when a vehicle is detected or present inthe desired or targeted “miner's light” direction (as determined by thegaze detection system), the light could be further adjusted downward orpartially disabled or limited in its upward adjustment so as to preventglaring light towards the driver or drivers of such other vehicle orvehicles detected ahead of the subject or host vehicle.

Optionally, the range of adjustability of the illumination source may belimited to only the right side of the vehicle (for vehicles that travelon the right side of the road) so as to limit directing the light towardoncoming or approaching traffic forwardly of and to the left of thecontrolled vehicle. In such applications, the adjustable illuminationsource may be located at or toward the right side of the vehicle, suchas at the front right portion of the vehicle or at the right sideportion of the vehicle, so as to be readily directed sidewardly towardthe right side of the road while leftward illumination is limited.Optionally, however, the range of adjustability may include movement ordirecting of light toward the left side of the vehicle, whereby suchleftward illumination may be limited to an upwardly directed angle, suchas, for example, an angle greater than 10 degrees above horizontal orthereabouts, so as to limit directing the light toward the eyes of thedrivers of the oncoming or approaching vehicles. The headlamps of thecontrolled vehicle remain in their forward angle or orientation toprovide the forward illumination of the road in front of the vehicle andare not affected by the adjustment of the illumination source.Optionally, however, the adjustable illumination source may beincorporated into the headlamp 22 (either as a separate illuminationsource at the headlamps or as an adjustable headlamp), while remainingwithin the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In situations or road conditions where the driver's or drivinginstructor's gaze moves back and forth repeatedly, the tracking of eyeor head gaze direction could cause excessive swinging or moving of thelight that may become annoying to the driver (or others in the vehicleor outside of the vehicle) and/or that may cause fatigue of the driveror driving instructor. Thus, it may be beneficial in such situations forthe driver or driving instructor to be able to selectively deactuate ordisable or limit the tracking and adjustment function of the presentinvention. Thus, it is envisioned that the miner's light or adjustablelighting function or system may be selectively or episodically activatedso that the illumination source is adjusted in certain situations andnot in others, such as in response to a user input or a control input orimage input or the like. For example, a user input or control button maybe provided at the steering wheel of the vehicle (or elsewhere in thevehicle, such as at the instrument panel or console or overhead consoleor mirror assembly or the like, where it may be readily accessible bythe driver or driving instructor of the vehicle), whereby the user ordriver or driving instructor may selectively actuate or enable anddeactuate or disable the illumination source or system and/or theadjustment function of the illumination source or system. Optionally,the enabling or disabling of the light alignment system of the presentinvention could be partial, with limits determined by the same systemsalso used for total enabling and total disabling of the system.Optionally, the system may be operable to adjust the miner's light onlywhen the gaze direction is generally maintained for a threshold periodof time (such as around one second or thereabouts) and the system maynot adjust the miner's light when the detected gaze direction is rapidlymoving and/or not directed toward an object of interest or the like.

Optionally, the user input to enable/disable the illumination system maycomprise other types of human-machine interface, such as, for example, amanual input or voice recognition system or the like. Optionally, theenablement/disablement function of the illumination system may be inresponse to a camera or imaging device that detects driver or drivinginstructor movements that are indicative of a situation where theillumination system should be disabled, such as a detection of repeatedblinking by the driver or driving instructor or predetermined headmovements by the driver or driving instructor or hand movements by thedriver or driving instructor or the like. Other user inputs orhuman-machine interfaces may be implemented to enable/disable/limit theadjustable illumination system while remaining within the spirit andscope of the present invention. For example, intelligent headlightsystems that detect vehicles in front of the host vehicle, GlobalPositioning Systems, roadside information systems or other informationsystems, the internet, intelligent transportation systems, communicationsystems or telematics systems or navigation systems (such as acommunication system or telematics system that receives a signal orinformation data from a remote source, such as a telematics system ornavigation system utilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,004,593; 6,678,614; 6,477,464; 6,690,268; and/or 7,167,796,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties)or the like may also function to disable, enable, or partially enable orlimit the operation of the adjustable illumination system.

Optionally, because the illumination source and the driver's or drivinginstructor's eyes or head may be separated by a substantial distance,such as about two meters or thereabouts, it is envisioned that theadjusted angle of the principal axis of illumination 16 a may bedifferent than the angle of the gaze direction A, in order to accountfor the parallax of the sign or object of interest with respect to thedriver or driving instructor and the illumination source. As shown inFIG. 3, the control may determine the gaze direction and adjust thedirection of the illumination source to account for such parallax, sothat the illumination source provides enhanced illumination of the signor object or area at which the driver's or driving instructor's gaze isdirected. The system may detect a sign or object at or near the side ofthe road in the direction of the driver's gaze and may adjust theprincipal axis of illumination responsive to the gaze direction and adistance to the detected sign or object along the axis of the gazedirection.

Optionally, the automatic lighting system of the present invention maybe used in conjunction with an object recognition system (such as asystem operable to detect and/or recognize a sign, animal, such as alarge animal such as a deer or the like, pedestrian, or other object) orthe like of the vehicle (such as, for example, a sign recognition systemutilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,397;6,946,978 and/or 7,004,606, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/105,757, filed Apr. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,103, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties). Forexample, the lighting system may include an imaging device (such as apixelated imaging array or the like or such as a cellular phone with acamera that is mounted or docked in the vehicle or any suitable imagingdevice or camera or the like) that has a field of view directedgenerally forwardly with respect to the direction of travel of thevehicle, and that captures images of the scene generally forwardlyand/or toward a side of the vehicle, so as to capture images of signs,or other important objects or objects of interest, along the road onwhich the vehicle is traveling. The control may process the image datato determine if a sign or other object of interest is present forwardlyand/or sidewardly of the vehicle, and the illumination source (orprincipal beam of illumination) may be automatically actuated oradjusted to at least briefly provide illumination of the sign or objectof interest. The illumination source thus may automatically illuminatesigns or other objects of interest at the side of the road, such as toprovide automatic illumination for the driver's or driving instructor'senhanced viewing, or to provide enhanced illumination for an objectrecognition system of the vehicle (such as a system operable to detectand/or recognize or identify a sign, animal or deer or pedestrian or thelike) or the like. The adjustment of the illumination source in responseto image processing of image data captured by a forward facing cameramay function in conjunction with or independently of the miner's lightfunction described above.

For applications with an object recognition system, the imaging devicemay automatically capture at least one image of the object when theobject is illuminated by the illumination source, whereby the controlmay process the image data of the illuminated object to determine orrecognize characters on the sign, or important or identifiablecharacteristics of the detected object. For example, an objectrecognition system may function to determine the nature orclassification of a detected object by determining a size of thedetected object of interest, a shape of the detected object of interest,a distance to the detected object of interest, and/or a direction towardthe detected object of interest and/or the like. Optionally, the controlmay direct or adjust and flash the illumination source in response todetection of the object (and with the principal axis of the beam ofillumination being directed generally toward the detected sign orobject), whereby the imaging device may be synchronized with theflashing illumination source to capture one or more images of the objectduring the brief period of time that the sign or object area isilluminated. Optionally, the illumination source may comprise aninfrared or near infrared illumination source and the imaging device maybe sensitive to infrared or near infrared illumination, such that theillumination source may provide illumination of the sign or area in amanner that provides enhanced sensing by the imaging device withoutdistracting the driver of the vehicle. Optionally, the objectrecognition system may output to the driver with a human machineinterface modality, such as a visual display, warning light, audiodevice, or haptic system or the like, information about the detected andrecognized object. Such output or outputs may be enhanced beyond theoutput capabilities available in situations where the object is notadditionally illuminated by the adaptively-aligned illumination system.

Therefore, the present invention provides an automatic lighting systemthat provides enhanced illumination of a sign or important object orobject of interest (such as deer or pedestrians) area at a side of aroad or toward a side of a vehicle traveling along the road to enhancethe viewing by the driver and/or imaging device of signs and the like asthe vehicle travels along the road during night time or low lightingdriving conditions. The system may monitor the driver's or drivinginstructor's eyes or head position or orientation to determine a gazedirection and may adjust or activate an illumination source accordingly.The illumination system may be installed in the vehicle duringmanufacture of the vehicle or may be an aftermarket system. Optionally,the illumination source may provide low intensity light in the generaloff-road direction, while the headlamps provide higher intensity lightin the forward direction of travel of the vehicle. Optionally, theillumination source may provide a localized beam of light that isdirected toward a particular sign or point of interest or object ofinterest at or near the side of the road. Optionally, the lightingsystem of the present invention may be responsive to an input from asteering wheel angle sensor, so that the illumination source may beactivated or adjusted to illuminate a side region of the road inresponse to a detection of a turning of the steering wheel of thevehicle. Optionally, the lighting system of the present invention mayprovide a wider or taller beam pattern for enhanced illumination of thetargeted area or object, depending on or responsive to one or more ofthe inputs discussed above.

The present invention thus provides for enhanced lighting of signs andthe like at the side of the road and provides enhanced lighting of otherregions that are typically outside a typical headlight range andorientation of the headlights of the vehicle. The imaging device andcontrol and image processor and illumination source may comprise anysuitable components, and may utilize aspects of the vision systems ofthe text described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,877,897; 6,498,620;5,670,935; 5,796,094; 6,396,397; 6,806,452; 6,690,268; 7,005,974;7,123,168; 7,004,606; 6,946,978; 7,038,577; 6,353,392; 6,320,176;6,313,454; and 6,824,281, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. The imaging device and/or control may bepart of or share components or circuitry with other image or imaging orvision systems of the vehicle, such as headlamp control systems and/orrain sensing systems and/or cabin monitoring systems and/or the like.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent lawincluding the doctrine of equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vehicular vision system suitable for usein a vehicle, said vehicular vision system comprising: an imaging devicehaving a field of view at least generally forwardly with respect to aforward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with said vehicularvision system; wherein said imaging device is operable to capture imagedata; a control operable to process said captured image data; whereinsaid control is operable to process said captured image data to detectobjects present at least one of (i) generally forwardly of the equippedvehicle as the equipped vehicle travels along the road and (ii)generally sidewardly of the equipped vehicle as the equipped vehicletravels along the road; wherein said objects comprise at least oneselected from the group consisting of (i) a sign ahead of the equippedvehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equipped vehicle and (iii) apedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle; wherein said control isoperable to process said captured image data to detect an oncomingheadlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of theequipped vehicle; an illumination source operable to illuminate at leastone of generally forwardly of the equipped vehicle and generallysidewardly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said illumination sourcecomprises an array of light emitting diodes and wherein illuminationemanating from said illumination source is adjustable via selectivelyactivating at least some individual light emitting diodes of said arrayof light emitting diodes; and wherein said selective activation of atleast some individual light emitting diodes of said array of lightemitting diodes is responsive, at least in part, to a detection of anoncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle forward ofthe equipped vehicle.
 2. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, whereinsaid control is operable to process said captured image data todetermine if an object present in the field of view of said imagingdevice is an object of interest to a driver of the equipped vehicle. 3.The vehicular vision system of claim 2, wherein said control processessaid captured image data to determine if an object present in the fieldof view of said imaging device is an object of interest to a driver ofthe equipped vehicle at least in part by determining at least one of (a)a size of the object, (b) a shape of the object, (c) a distance to theobject and (d) a direction toward the object.
 4. The vehicular visionsystem of claim 2, wherein said control is operable to determine that anobject present in the field of view of said imaging device that isdetermined to be an object of interest is a pedestrian.
 5. The vehicularvision system of claim 2, wherein an object present in the field of viewof said imaging device that is determined to be an object of interestcomprises a sign and wherein said control is operable to process saidcaptured image data to determine or recognize characters on the sign. 6.The vehicular vision system of claim 2, wherein, responsive to adetermination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination of an area encompassing the object of interest. 7.The vehicular vision system of claim 6, wherein said object of interestcomprises an oncoming vehicle.
 8. The vehicular vision system of claim6, wherein said control is operable to adjust illumination emanatingfrom said illumination source in at least one of a horizontal directionand a vertical direction.
 9. The vehicular vision system of claim 2,wherein at least one of (a) responsive to a determination that an objectpresent in the field of view of said imaging device is an object ofinterest, said control is operable to adjust illumination of an areaencompassing the object of interest and wherein the object of interestcomprises an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle forward of the equipped vehicle, (b) responsive to adetermination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination of an area encompassing the object of interest andwherein the object of interest comprises a pedestrian, (c) responsive toa determination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination of an area encompassing the object of interest andwherein the object of interest comprises an oncoming vehicle, and (d)responsive to a determination that an object present in the field ofview of said imaging device is an object of interest, said control isoperable to adjust illumination emanating from said illumination sourcein at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. 10.The vehicular vision system of claim 2, wherein, responsive to adetermination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable togenerate an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle.
 11. Thevehicular vision system of claim 10, wherein said alert comprises atleast one of (a) a visual display, (b) a warning light, (c) an audiblesignal and (d) a haptic alert.
 12. The vehicular vision system of claim1, wherein said selective activation adjusts a light beam emanating fromsaid illumination source.
 13. The vehicular vision system of claim 1,wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes of said illuminationsource is at least one of (a) actuated to at least briefly illuminate anobject that is determined to be an object of interest and (b) adjustedto at least briefly illuminate an object that is determined to be anobject of interest.
 14. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, whereinat least some of said light emitting diodes comprise at least one ofinfrared light emitting diodes and near infrared radiating lightemitting diodes, and wherein said imaging device is sensitive to atleast one of infrared radiation and near infrared radiation.
 15. Thevehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein activation of some of saidlight emitting diodes results in illumination generally in one directionwhile activation of others of said light emitting diodes results inillumination generally in a different direction.
 16. The vehicularvision system of claim 1, wherein activation of some of said lightemitting diodes results in a first beam of light while activation ofothers of said light emitting diodes results in a second beam of light.17. The vehicular vision system of claim 16, wherein said first beam oflight is generally in one direction and said second beam of light isgenerally in another direction.
 18. The vehicular vision system of claim1, wherein said illumination source comprises at least one of (a) abaffle and (b) a light guiding element.
 19. The vehicular vision systemof claim 18, wherein said illumination source comprises a baffle andwherein illumination emanating from said illumination source isadjustable via said baffle.
 20. The vehicular vision system of claim 1,wherein said illumination source is located at a forward portion of theequipped vehicle.
 21. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, whereinsaid illumination source comprises a headlight of the equipped vehicle.22. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein said vehicularvision system is selectively enabled and disabled in response to anoutput of at least one of (a) a human-machine interface, (b) anintelligent headlight system that detects vehicles in front of theequipped vehicle, (c) a Global Positioning System, (d) a roadsideinformation system, (e) the internet, (f) an intelligent transportationsystem, (g) a communication system, (h) a telematics system and (i) anavigation system.
 23. The vehicular vision system of claim 1,comprising a gaze detection device operable to determine a gazedirection of the driver or a driving instructor of the equipped vehicle,wherein said gaze detection device comprises a second imaging device forcapturing image data, said second imaging device having a field of viewgenerally toward the head of the driver or driving instructor of theequipped vehicle, wherein an image processing device is operable toprocess said image data captured by said second imaging device todetermine the gaze direction of the driver or driving instructor of theequipped vehicle, and wherein said control is operable to adjustillumination emanating from said illumination source in response to anoutput of said gaze detection device, and wherein said control isoperable to illuminate an area generally forwardly and sidewardly of theequipped vehicle where the driver or driving instructor of the equippedvehicle is looking.
 24. A vehicular vision system suitable for use in avehicle, said vehicular vision system comprising: an imaging devicehaving a field of view at least generally forwardly with respect to aforward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with said vehicularvision system; wherein said imaging device is operable to capture imagedata; a control operable to process said captured image data; whereinsaid control is operable to process said captured image data todetermine if an object present in the field of view of said imagingdevice is an object of interest to a driver of the equipped vehicle;wherein said control processes said captured image data to determine ifan object present in the field of view of said imaging device is anobject of interest to a driver of the equipped vehicle at least in partby determining at least one of (a) a size of the object, (b) a shape ofthe object, (c) a distance to the object and (d) a direction toward theobject; wherein said object of interest comprises one of (i) a signahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equippedvehicle and (iii) a pedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle; whereinsaid control is operable to process said captured image data to detectan oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead ofthe equipped vehicle; a headlight operable to illuminate at least one ofgenerally forwardly of the equipped vehicle and generally sidewardly ofthe equipped vehicle, wherein said headlight comprises an array of lightemitting diodes and wherein illumination emanating from said headlightis adjustable via selectively activating at least some individual lightemitting diodes of said array of light emitting diodes; and wherein saidselective activation of at least some individual light emitting diodesof said array of light emitting diodes is responsive, at least in part,to a detection of an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight ofanother vehicle forward of the equipped vehicle.
 25. The vehicularvision system of claim 24, wherein said control is operable to determinethat an object present in the field of view of said imaging device thatis determined to be an object of interest is a pedestrian.
 26. Thevehicular vision system of claim 24, wherein an object present in thefield of view of said imaging device that is determined to be an objectof interest comprises a sign and wherein said control is operable toprocess said captured image data to determine or recognize characters onthe sign.
 27. The vehicular vision system of claim 24, wherein at leastone of (a) responsive to a determination that an object present in thefield of view of said imaging device is an object of interest, saidcontrol is operable to adjust illumination of an area encompassing theobject of interest, (b) responsive to a determination that an objectpresent in the field of view of said imaging device is an object ofinterest, said control is operable to adjust illumination of an areaencompassing the object of interest and wherein the object of interestcomprises an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle forward of the equipped vehicle, (c) responsive to adetermination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination of an area encompassing the object of interest andwherein the object of interest comprises a pedestrian, (d) responsive toa determination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination of an area encompassing the object of interest andwherein the object of interest comprises an oncoming vehicle, (e)responsive to a determination that an object present in the field ofview of said imaging device is an object of interest, said control isoperable to adjust illumination of an area encompassing the object ofinterest and said control is operable to adjust illumination emanatingfrom said headlight in at least one of a horizontal direction and avertical direction, (f) responsive to a determination that an objectpresent in the field of view of said imaging device is an object ofinterest, said control is operable to adjust illumination emanating fromsaid headlight in at least one of a horizontal direction and a verticaldirection, and (g) wherein said selective activation adjusts a lightbeam emanating from said headlight.
 28. The vehicular vision system ofclaim 24, wherein, responsive to a determination that an object presentin the field of view of said imaging device is an object of interest,said control is operable to generate an alert to the driver of theequipped vehicle, and wherein said alert comprises at least one of (a) avisual display, (b) a warning light, (c) an audible signal and (d) ahaptic alert.
 29. The vehicular vision system of claim 24, wherein atleast some of said light emitting diodes comprise at least one ofinfrared light emitting diodes and near infrared radiating lightemitting diodes, and wherein said imaging device is sensitive to atleast one of infrared radiation and near infrared radiation.
 30. Thevehicular vision system of claim 24, wherein activation of some of saidlight emitting diodes results in illumination generally in one directionwhile activation of others of said light emitting diodes results inillumination generally in a different direction.
 31. The vehicularvision system of claim 24, wherein activation of some of said lightemitting diodes results in a first beam of light while activation ofothers of said light emitting diodes results in a second beam of light.32. The vehicular vision system of claim 31, wherein said first beam oflight is generally in one direction and said second beam of light isgenerally in another direction.
 33. The vehicular vision system of claim24, wherein said headlight comprises at least one of (a) a baffle and(b) a light guiding element.
 34. The vehicular vision system of claim33, wherein said headlight comprises a baffle and wherein illuminationemanating from said headlight is adjustable via said baffle.
 35. Avehicular vision system suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicularvision system comprising: an imaging device having a field of view atleast generally forwardly with respect to a forward direction of travelof a vehicle equipped with said vehicular vision system; wherein saidimaging device is operable to capture image data; a control operable toprocess said captured image data; wherein said control is operable toprocess said captured image data to detect at least one of (i) a signahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equippedvehicle and (iii) a pedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle; whereinsaid control is operable to process said captured image data to detectan oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead ofthe equipped vehicle; a headlight operable to illuminate at least one ofgenerally forwardly of the equipped vehicle and generally sidewardly ofthe equipped vehicle, wherein said headlight comprises an array of lightemitting diodes and wherein illumination emanating from said headlightis adjustable via selectively activating at least some individual lightemitting diodes of said array of light emitting diodes; wherein saidselective activation of at least some individual light emitting diodesof said array of light emitting diodes is responsive, at least in part,to a detection of an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight ofanother vehicle forward of the equipped vehicle; and wherein at leastone of (a) responsive to a determination that an object present in thefield of view of said imaging device is an object of interest, saidcontrol is operable to adjust illumination of an area encompassing theobject of interest, (b) responsive to a determination that an objectpresent in the field of view of said imaging device is an object ofinterest, said control is operable to adjust illumination of an areaencompassing the object of interest and wherein the object of interestcomprises an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle forward of the equipped vehicle, (c) responsive to adetermination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination of an area encompassing the object of interest andwherein the object of interest comprises a pedestrian, (d) responsive toa determination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination of an area encompassing the object of interest andwherein the object of interest comprises an oncoming vehicle, (e)responsive to a determination that an object present in the field ofview of said imaging device is an object of interest, said control isoperable to adjust illumination of an area encompassing the object ofinterest and said control is operable to adjust illumination emanatingfrom said headlight in at least one of a horizontal direction and avertical direction, (f) said selective activation adjusts a light beamemanating from said headlight, and (g) responsive to a determinationthat an object present in the field of view of said imaging device is anobject of interest, said control is operable to adjust illuminationemanating from said headlight in at least one of a horizontal directionand a vertical direction.
 36. The vehicular vision system of claim 35,wherein said control processes said captured image data to determine ifan object present in the field of view of said imaging device is anobject of interest to a driver of the equipped vehicle at least in partby determining at least one of (a) a size of the object, (b) a shape ofthe object, (c) a distance to the object and (d) a direction toward theobject.
 37. The vehicular vision system of claim 35, wherein at leastone of (a) said control is operable to determine that an object presentin the field of view of said imaging device that is determined to be anobject of interest is a pedestrian, and (b) an object present in thefield of view of said imaging device that is determined to be an objectof interest comprises a sign and wherein said control is operable toprocess said captured image data to determine or recognize characters onthe sign.
 38. The vehicular vision system of claim 35, wherein,responsive to a determination that an object present in the field ofview of said imaging device is an object of interest, said control isoperable to generate an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle, andwherein said alert comprises at least one of (a) a visual display, (b) awarning light, (e) an audible signal and (d) a haptic alert.
 39. Thevehicular vision system of claim 35, wherein at least one of (a)activation of some of said light emitting diodes results in illuminationgenerally in one direction while activation of others of said lightemitting diodes results in illumination generally in a differentdirection, (b) activation of some of said light emitting diodes resultsin a first beam of light while activation of others of said lightemitting diodes results in a second beam of light, and (c) activation ofsome of said light emitting diodes results in a first beam of lightwhile activation of others of said light emitting diodes results in asecond beam of light and said first beam of light is generally in onedirection and said second beam of light is generally in anotherdirection.
 40. The vehicular vision system of claim 39, wherein saidheadlight comprises at least one of (a) a baffle and (b) a light guidingelement.
 41. The vehicular vision system of claim 40, wherein saidheadlight comprises a baffle and wherein illumination emanating fromsaid headlight is adjustable via said baffle.
 42. A vehicular visionsystem suitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular vision systemcomprising: an imaging device having a field of view at least generallyforwardly with respect to a forward direction of travel of a vehicleequipped with said vehicular vision system; wherein said imaging deviceis operable to capture image data; a control operable to process saidcaptured image data; wherein said control is operable to process saidcaptured image data to detect at least one of (i) a sign ahead of theequipped vehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equipped vehicle and (iii)pedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle; wherein said control isoperable to process said captured image data to detect an oncomingheadlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of theequipped vehicle; an illumination source operable to illuminate at leastone of generally forwardly of the equipped vehicle and generallysidewardly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said illumination sourcecomprises an array of light emitting diodes and wherein illuminationemanating from said illumination source is adjustable via selectivelyactivating at least some individual light emitting diodes of said arrayof light emitting diodes; wherein said selective activation of at leastsome individual light emitting diodes of said array of light emittingdiodes is responsive, at least in part, to a detection of an oncomingheadlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle forward of theequipped vehicle; and wherein, responsive to a determination that anobject present in the field of view of said imaging device is an objectof interest, said control is operable to adjust illumination of an areaencompassing the object of interest and wherein the object of interestcomprises an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle forward of the equipped vehicle.
 43. The vehicular vision systemof claim 42, wherein at least one of (a) responsive to a determinationthat an object present in the field of view of said imaging device is anobject of interest, said control is operable to adjust illumination ofan area encompassing the object of interest and wherein the object ofinterest comprises a pedestrian, (b) responsive to a determination thatan object present in the field of view of said imaging device is anobject of interest, said control is operable to adjust illumination ofan area encompassing the object of interest and wherein the object ofinterest comprises an oncoming vehicle, (c) responsive to adetermination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination of an area encompassing the object of interest andsaid control is operable to adjust illumination emanating from saidillumination source in at least one of a horizontal direction and avertical direction, (d) responsive to a determination that an objectpresent in the field of view of said imaging device is an object ofinterest, said control is operable to adjust illumination emanating fromsaid illumination source in at least one of a horizontal direction and avertical direction, and (e) wherein said selective activation adjusts alight beam emanating from said illumination source.
 44. The vehicularvision system of claim 42, wherein said control processes said capturedimage data to determine if an object present in the field of view ofsaid imaging device is an object of interest to a driver of the equippedvehicle at least in part by determining at least one of (a) a size ofthe object, (b) a shape of the object, (c) a distance to the object and(d) a direction toward the object.
 45. The vehicular vision system ofclaim 42, wherein at least one of (a) said control is operable todetermine that an object present in the field of view of said imagingdevice that is determined to be an object of interest is a pedestrian,and (b) an object present in the field of view of said imaging devicethat is determined to be an object of interest comprises a sign andwherein said control is operable to process said captured image data todetermine or recognize characters on the sign.
 46. The vehicular visionsystem of claim 42, wherein, responsive to a determination that anobject present in the field of view of said imaging device is an objectof interest, said control is operable to generate an alert to the driverof the equipped vehicle, and wherein said alert comprises at least oneof (a) a visual display, (b) a warning light, (c) an audible signal and(d) a haptic alert.
 47. The vehicular vision system of claim 42, whereinat least one of (a) activation of some of said light emitting diodesresults in illumination generally in one direction while activation ofothers of said light emitting diodes results in illumination generallyin a different direction, (b) activation of some of said light emittingdiodes results in a first beam of light while activation of others ofsaid light emitting diodes results in a second beam of light, and (c)activation of some of said light emitting diodes results in a first beamof light while activation of others of said light emitting diodesresults in a second beam of light and said first beam of light isgenerally in one direction and said second beam of light is generally inanother direction.
 48. The vehicular vision system of claim 42, whereinsaid illumination source comprises at least one of (a) a baffle and (b)a light guiding element.
 49. The vehicular vision system of claim 48,wherein said illumination source comprises a baffle and whereinillumination emanating from said illumination source is adjustable viasaid baffle.
 50. A vehicular vision system suitable for use in avehicle, said vehicular vision system comprising: an imaging devicehaving a field of view at least generally forwardly with respect to aforward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with said vehicularvision system; wherein said imaging device is operable to capture imagedata; a control operable to process said captured image data; whereinsaid control is operable to process said captured image data to detectobjects present at least one of (i) generally forwardly of the equippedvehicle as the equipped vehicle travels along the road and (ii)generally sidewardly of the equipped vehicle as the equipped vehicletravels along the road; wherein said objects comprise at least oneselected from the group consisting of (i) a sign ahead of the equippedvehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equipped vehicle and (iii) apedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle; wherein said control isoperable to process said captured image data to detect an oncomingheadlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of theequipped vehicle; a headlight operable to illuminate at least one ofgenerally forwardly of the equipped vehicle and generally sidewardly ofthe equipped vehicle; wherein said headlight comprises a baffle andwherein illumination emanating from said headlight is adjustable viasaid baffle; wherein said control is operable to process said capturedimage data to determine if an object present in the field of view ofsaid imaging device is an object of interest to a driver of the equippedvehicle; and wherein, responsive to a determination that an objectpresent in the field of view of said imaging device is an object ofinterest, said control is operable to adjust illumination of an areaencompassing the object of interest and wherein the object of interestcomprises an oncoming vehicle.
 51. The vehicular vision system of claim50, wherein at least one of (a) responsive to a determination that anobject present in the field of view of said imaging device is an objectof interest, said control is operable to adjust illumination of an areaencompassing the object of interest and wherein the object of interestcomprises a pedestrian, (b) responsive to a determination that an objectpresent in the field of view of said imaging device is an object ofinterest, said control is operable to adjust illumination of an areaencompassing the object of interest and said control is operable toadjust illumination emanating from said headlight in at least one of ahorizontal direction and a vertical direction, and (c) responsive to adetermination that an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest, said control is operable toadjust illumination emanating from said headlight in at least one of ahorizontal direction and a vertical direction.
 52. The vehicular visionsystem of claim 51, wherein said control processes said captured imagedata to determine if an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest to a driver of the equippedvehicle at least in part by determining at least one of (a) a size ofthe object, (b) a shape of the object, (c) a distance to the object and(d) a direction toward the object.
 53. A vehicular vision systemsuitable for use in a vehicle, said vehicular vision system comprising:an imaging device having a field of view at least generally forwardlywith respect to a forward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped withsaid vehicular vision system; wherein said imaging device is operable tocapture image data; a control operable to process said captured imagedata; wherein said control is operable to process said captured imagedata to detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle; a headlight operable toilluminate at least one of generally forwardly of the equipped vehicleand generally sidewardly of the equipped vehicle; wherein said headlightcomprises a baffle and wherein a forward lighting light beam emanatingfrom said headlight is adjustable via said baffle; and wherein,responsive to a detection by said control of an oncoming headlight or aleading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, saidcontrol controls said baffle to adjust said forward lighting light beamin order to reduce light emanating from said headlight glaring a driverof the detected other vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle.
 54. Thevehicular vision system of claim 53, wherein said control processes saidcaptured image data to determine if an object present in the field ofview of said imaging device is an object of interest to a driver of theequipped vehicle, and wherein at least one of (a) responsive to adetermination by said control that an object present in the field ofview of said imaging device is an object of interest, said control isoperable to adjust illumination of an area encompassing the object ofinterest and wherein the object of interest comprises a pedestrian, (b)responsive to a determination by said control that an object present inthe field of view of said imaging device is an object of interest, saidcontrol is operable to adjust illumination of an area encompassing theobject of interest and said control is operable to adjust illuminationemanating from said headlight in at least one of a horizontal directionand a vertical direction, and (c) responsive to a determination by saidcontrol that an object present in the field of view of said imagingdevice is an object of interest, said control is operable to adjustillumination emanating from said headlight in at least one of ahorizontal direction and a vertical direction.
 55. The vehicular visionsystem of claim 53, wherein said control processes said captured imagedata to determine if an object present in the field of view of saidimaging device is an object of interest to a driver of the equippedvehicle at least in part by determining at least one of (a) a size ofthe object, (b) a shape of the object, (c) a distance to the object and(d) a direction toward the object.
 56. The vehicular vision system ofclaim 53, wherein said vehicular vision system is selectively enabledand disabled in response to an output of at least one of (a) ahuman-machine interface, (b) a Global Positioning System, (c) a roadsideinformation system, (d) the internet, (e) an intelligent transportationsystem, (f) a communication system, (g) a telematics system and (h) anavigation system.
 57. The vehicular vision system of claim 53, whereinsaid control is operable to process said captured image data to detectan oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead ofthe equipped vehicle utilizing algorithmic decision-making.
 58. Thevehicular vision system of claim 57, wherein said algorithmicdecision-making comprises use of an edge detection algorithm.
 59. Thevehicular vision system of claim 57, wherein said algorithmicdecision-making involves at least one of (a) a size of an oncomingheadlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of theequipped vehicle, (b) a shape of an oncoming headlight or a leadingtaillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (c) adistance to an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle and (d) a direction toward anoncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead ofthe equipped vehicle.
 60. A vehicular vision system suitable for use ina vehicle, said vehicular vision system comprising: a CMOS imagingdevice having a field of view at least generally forwardly with respectto a forward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with saidvehicular vision system; wherein said imaging device is operable tocapture image data; a control operable to process said captured imagedata; wherein said control is operable to process said captured imagedata to detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle; wherein said control is operableto process said captured image data to detect an oncoming headlight or aleading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicleutilizing algorithmic decision-making; a headlight operable toilluminate at least one of generally forwardly of the equipped vehicleand generally sidewardly of the equipped vehicle; wherein said headlightcomprises a baffle and wherein a forward lighting light beam emanatingfrom said headlight is adjustable via said baffle; and wherein,responsive to a detection by said control of an oncoming headlight or aleading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, saidcontrol controls said baffle to adjust said forward lighting light beamin order to reduce light emanating from said headlight glaring a driverof the detected other vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle.
 61. Thevehicular vision system of claim 60, wherein said algorithmicdecision-making comprises use of an edge detection algorithm.
 62. Thevehicular vision system of claim 60, wherein said algorithmicdecision-making involves at least one of (a) a size of an oncomingheadlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of theequipped vehicle, (b) a shape of an oncoming headlight or a leadingtaillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (c) adistance to an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle and (d) a direction toward anoncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead ofthe equipped vehicle.
 63. The vehicular vision system of claim 60,wherein said CMOS imaging device is part of an interior rearview mirrorassembly of the equipped vehicle.
 64. The vehicular vision system ofclaim 63, wherein processing by said control of said captured image datato detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle is performed, at least in part, bycircuitry that is part of said interior rearview mirror assembly of theequipped vehicle.
 65. A vehicular vision system suitable for use in avehicle, said vehicular vision system comprising: an imaging devicehaving a field of view at least generally forwardly with respect to aforward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with said vehicularvision system; wherein said imaging device is operable to, capture imagedata; a control operable to process said captured image data; whereinsaid control is operable to process said captured image data to detectan oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead ofthe equipped vehicle; wherein said control is operable to process saidcaptured image data to detect an oncoming headlight or a leadingtaillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle utilizingalgorithmic decision-making; wherein said imaging device is part of aninterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and whereinprocessing by said control of said captured image data to detect anoncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead ofthe equipped vehicle is performed, at least in part, by circuitry thatis part of said interior rearview mirror assembly of the equippedvehicle; a headlight operable to illuminate at least one of generallyforwardly of the equipped vehicle and generally sidewardly of theequipped vehicle; wherein said headlight comprises a baffle and whereina forward lighting light beam emanating from said headlight isadjustable via said baffle; and wherein, responsive to a detection bysaid control of an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, said control controls said baffleto adjust said forward lighting light beam in order to reduce lightemanating from said headlight glaring a driver of the detected othervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle.
 66. The vehicular vision systemof claim 65, wherein said algorithmic decision-making comprises use ofan edge detection algorithm.
 67. The vehicular vision system of claim65, wherein said algorithmic decision-making involves at least one of(a) a size of an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (b) a shape of an oncomingheadlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of theequipped vehicle, (c) a distance to an oncoming headlight or a leadingtaillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle and (d) adirection toward an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of anothervehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle.
 68. The vehicular vision systemof claim 65, wherein said vehicular vision system is selectively enabledand disabled in response to an output of at least one of (a) ahuman-machine interface, (b) a Global Positioning System, (c) a roadsideinformation system, (d) the internet, (e) an intelligent transportationsystem, (f) a communication system, (g) a telematics system and (h) anavigation system.